IGN Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning Review

Who said that epic and expansive fantasy RPGs had to have subpar gameplay? For as much as I absolutely adore games like Fallout 3, Mass Effect 2 and Skyrim, gameplay in those titles simply didn't live up to the amazing standards set by their superb settings, narratives and quest structures. In Fallout 3, VATS was simply an excuse for its inherently clumsy combat, and for as much awe as Skyrim instilled in me, in-game fighting is sloppy. Good news, then, that Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning has come along.

[Pintheshadows]

Shiningly positive review. Excellent.

[torchic]

yeah very positive review. towards the end I thought he was going to give it a 9.5

[Captain Qwark 9]

id be inclined to think it was a ten based off the way he describes it lol the few things he knocked it for are irrelevant to me so i think ill be very pleased when i pick it up Tuesday :)

[HammockGames]

Loved the demo.

Seemed to me like a fantastic hybrid of Torchlight (combat) and Elder Scrolls/Dragon Age (scale & story) - a couple other favorites of mine.

[Legion]

I finished the Demo and was less then impressed. I was interested in the title until the Demo got into my hands. As it is now I doubt I will purchase the game... if it hits bargain bin then I might think about it.

Right now I am waiting for the Dragons's Dogma Demo to come out to see where that is going to be placed in my next game to purchase list?

[Spydiggity]

it's hardly like torchlight. It's more like a God of War type of combat. Except you get to control the camera with your right joystick and you roll with B (circle).

Midnight purchase!

[Raf1k1]

I'm guessing he made the Torchlight comparison because he played the demo on PC where you have to click repeatedly to attack which is very much like Torchlight. I can see the similarity in it too.

I'm actually looking forward to playing this as combat for all styles of play seems to be really good. I was surprised to find combat with a staff to be much more than point and shoot which made me feel like playing a spellcaster for a change.

[ProjectVulcan]

I only played the demo on PC, so i was surprised to read about technical shortcomings from IGN, because on PC the game is extremely easy to run, i don't think i saw the framerate ever drop below 100FPS all the time i played that.

[HammockGames]

@ Vulcanproject

Indeed. Ran absolutely great for me without any hiccups.

And if I'm not mistaken the demo did not support SLI whereas the full release will (I believe that was mentioned in the release notes that accompany nVidia's latest beta driver).

[jeseth]

Nice. Sounds like everything Dragone Age 2 SHOULD HAVE been!

Can't wait. Been looking at this game for a long time now. ..

[Kos-Mos]

Do you believe reviews from ign?

[Pintheshadows]

I read the text, not the score.

[NYC_Gamer]

very solid score.

[lugia 4000]

It starts well. Glad I have KoA on my steam inventory :)

[Dark11]

No thanks, i don't trust IGN.

[Godchild1020]

This is the one time you should I have had the game for 10 hours so far and I'm very please with it.

Godchild1020 on PSN. If you don't have a PS3, you can also go to the Sony website to see my trophy list or head to any of the trophy websites.

[SwampCroc]

37 Platinums.... I believe whatever you say.

you gotta be a gaming journalist or something right?

[Godchild1020]

Not really. I work for a video game store and I write trophy guides for a few sites; PS3trophies.org, trophiesonPSN.com and YourGamerCards.net. I have 37 but some of them are Disney games that I tried and ended up enjoying and end up writing guides for them.

I've been playing this game for a good deal of time and only encounter framerate issues with more than 6 enemies on the screen when I was doing multiple moves at once; magic and other attacks. I have been using the Shepard armor (5 pieces from the online pass) its the strongest armor in the beginning of the game and the chakrams. The chakrams helped me from dying a lot.

I also want to ask, have you ever had a game that you couldn't or didn't want to put down, but you had to because you had to go to work or school? This game has been like that for me and I haven't touched the main quest after getting to Gohart(the first town in the demo).

My only real grip is the camera, it's not always behind the character and I've missed a good deal of fate shifts.

You might ask "why are you not playing and if it's that good how do you have time to type this?" I'm on my way to work and using my phone to type this and if I didn't need money I would have stayed home.

Another note: This will be the game to make me miss Valentines day with the Girlfriend. I will still be getting Twisted Metal with the flowers, except they will be delivered.

[SwampCroc]

I myself am a disabled veteran and no job... I go to college.. but I'm only in 2 classes this semester.

I get paid a check for disability and they pay me more while I'm attending college.

so I don't work and I game all the time. I was just curious.

I added you on my list.. it's Jaybizzle311. I think what you are doing is cool. I wish I had the skill to platinum more games. There's a bunch that are super hard.

but yeah, I know what you mean about not being able to put a game down. I'm reliving those childhood memories through some of the HD collections as we speak... and also the Back to The Future Episodes 1-5 that I got via PS+ I found myself very hard to stop playing.. those were so fun and true to the universe of what is BTTF.

I am also getting KoA and Twisted Metal.. But I'm getting Kingdoms for my Xbox. not any reason. just trying to use both my systems evenly.

[padz1]

Really good score, but i'll wait for more reviews.Need to see if its consistently good.

[aviator189]

Sweet, though I was going to get the game anyways. The demo was an absolute blast!

[padz1]

I really enjoyed the first spellforce PC game even though it didn't get great reviews, to me this game looks quite a bit like that. I haven't played the demo so can anyone confirm if its anything at all like that? obviously you don't command you army but it looks similar in some respects

[aPerson]

Fable + Dragon Age + Darksiders

That is what the game is like. Can't wait for it!

[Tdmd]

Great review - I hope they'll keep coming and that the high scores the game gets translates well into sale numbers, so this could be make into an successful franchise!

[achmetha]

I read somewhere that the sequel is already being planned. So EA is confident that this will be successful. I hope so, because the demo I played was more entertaining than most games I played recently.

[Troll-without-Bridge]

Im glad a mindless hack and slash gets praised.Nothing can stop the gears of streamlining of what once were rich elements in RPG's.

[r21]

it aint a mindless hack and slash. yes the combat is hack and slash style but there is still a story to the game, good voice actors and pretty good/funny dialogue. you have played the demo right?

[MidnytRain]

It's a new IP, they can really do whatever they want with it.

[DaveMan]

Yeah, screw VARIETY!

[aPerson]

@Troll-without-Bridge

Here's a mind-boggling concept for you:

Combat doesn't have to suck in RPGs. This isn't about streamlining the genre, it's about improving the modern day RPG because unfortunately for a lot of RPGs, combat isn't a strong point. Kingdoms of Amalur changes that.

[Troll-without-Bridge]

so this game is an RPG for people who didn't like how RPG's played before? Im glad we got this straight.

I love the battle system of games like dragon age origins or The Witcher 2. Now this? This one is a class B hack and slash with no depth and no thought whatsoever.

[Rampaged Death]

I knew it would get a great review. Why else would they reveal it live with the producer. I'll wait till a game drought and then get it.

[Faztkiller]

Don't understand why everyone says skyrims combat is weak I think its perfect

[OmniSlashPT]

So I guess you like to cut air and randomly swing your weapon in order to kill someone. If you're fighting in a room with both hostiles and NPCs, you might hurt NPC's when you're trying to kill hostiles because you'll never know where you'll be cutting air next. Besides, the magic gameplay gets a bit repetitive too. As I usually say, Skyrim complexity makes it fail in such essencial and simple details like those. The only good thing about the gameplay is that cutscene where you chop the head of your opponent, that's cool.

[MidnytRain]

You attack in the direction that you're facing.

[kobe8ph]

Yeah I think so too. It's a more realistic game and what I REALLY like about it its spending your points/perks wisely. All about making the right decisions and then comparing your character with your friends. What I understand about KOA is that you can REASSIGN your points or abilities if you have the money. Where's the fun in that?

[Optical_Matrix]

Lol more realistic. You want realistic melee combat, play Dark Souls. Skyrim's melee is a joke.

[Foxton01]

This 6 year old game did it better.. thats 1 reason

[Baka-akaB]

Why it is weak ?

Seriously ?

There is no AI , even dragon attacks you the same way than a rabid dog or wolf , only they can decide to fly and breath fire .

You dont actually need to time anything , and pretty much spam stuff in your face , so long as the bar allow it .

The magic gameplay is tedious with the (default) interface trying to tell you basically "dont bother adding many spells on your list of favs , unless you wanna waste much time pause scrolling"

You can't rely much on companions and familiars as they gets in your way , unless you keep away from them .

The game is good , great even , but not for its fighting mechanics

[Rtard THE HD VERSION]

Waiting for comment. Zomg scoredz less than skyrim. Flop offical .

/s

[RememberThe357]

Damn, I wasn't expecting that. I was hoping this game would be good, but great? Now I'm excited.

[kevnb]

Just because ign said its good? it might be fantastic, but reviews are worthless.

[RememberThe357]

Way to be a pessimist. IGN may not be the most consistent, but they generally give good games good scores(7-10). So if they say a game is good over all I believe them. You say reviews are worthless, but did you go out and buy Amy? I didn't and I'm glad I missed that turd, without reviews I might have actually gotten that game. And really for RPGs, demos are worthless. Skyrim wasn't fun because of the gameplay, it was because all you got to do and how deep and expansive the world was. 10-20 minutes of Skyrim would have left a bad taste in my mouth but I played two hours my first sitting and I was hooked. The only reason I stopped playing it was because it was a glitchy mess.

[Baka-akaB]

then again arent places like IGN the reason people were that hyped for Amy , despite having seen pretty much nothing of it ?

Their review are indeed worthless n their own as often chokeful of game facts errors , with some game being given passes because of ads and sponsorship , and their utter lack of playtime with anything obscure

[kevnb]

Demo was horrid, but the same could be said of any rpg demo

[DaveMan]

that demo was FARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR away from bad

[Baba1906]

the demo was great. =D

[Baka-akaB]

the demo is horrible compared to the game . Cool if you liked it , but it painted a picture that wasnt engaging to some others , while the game is miles more varied and better

[Gamer-Z]

I'll probably buy the game since I enjoyed the demo a lot but first i have to beat skyrim!

[urwifeminder]

The demo was one of the worst games i played this gen i give the demo 0 out of 10 lol simply disgusting cheap trash,different strokes for different folks , creater likes caves and large rats the games more cliche than cod..

[MidnytRain]

Zero?

[Eamon]

Wow this game looks good.

A game that plays like Fable but is better than Fable, eh.

[SilentNegotiator]

I must have played the demo to a DIFFERENT Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, because the one I played had some of the most generic, underwhelming combat I had played in a long time.

[Luc20]

I played that last night. So many camera problems. it gave me a headache ater 15min. I know it was a demo they could fix it better!

[baboom223]

I agree, nothing new, tactical or even interesting with the combat.. I just button mashed and basically never got hit.

[HacSawJimThugin]

I predicted better review scores than FF 13-2 and of course I was right. Whenever you have a good team in place, great things happen and that's the case with 38 Studios.

The demo was awesome and everything I always wanted in a RPG. It has the combat and depth that Fable lacked. The fluidity of the combat and animations kill Dragon Age and the history of Amalur intrigues me and leave me wanting to know more like Avatar

In essence, this game has reinvented the wheel in every sense. RPGs are my favorite genre, so naturally, I'm excited the first review is so positive.

Dark Souls hold a special place in my heart along with the Final Fantasy franchise and Kingdom Hearts, but Amalur is that new dope...lol...it's like they found out what happens when you mix coke with baking soda.

Skyrim pales in comparison to this game and the critics along with the RPG community will prove that on Tuesday. I can't wait til the 7th!!

Sidebar...if you disagree, name a better console RPG this gen...cue Jeopardy music.

[Ulf]

I usually wait for the price on a game to drop to $30 before I pick it up, because I have such a huge game backlog, I can afford to wait.

That said, I'm picking this one up at $60. Compared to 20 hour games that I've spent $30 on (Fable 2 comes to mind), it'll be a steal at that price.

[schlanz]

Might still be on toysrus for $45... Can't wait for this epic!

[SwampCroc]

I didn't expect anything less... I've been saying for weeks that this could very well be the game of the generation...

just look at the talent behind the game...

[iWishTifaWasReal]

Dropping FFXIII-2 for this game.

sorry but im not gonna buy a game that NOBODY ASKED FOR.

[Anti-Fanboyer]

I enjoyed the demo, replayed it 5 times just to see how much freedom they give you. I did just about everything I could do every 45 minutes, and tried again. Pickpocket people, looted a whole town, farmed gold and bought the best armors I could find.

[Relientk77]

Ok I will definitely have to try this game

[theEXPATRIATED]

I've gotten in countless arguments with my one roommate about how boring and stale Oblivion/Fallout/Skyrim's gameplay is. Glad to see I'm not the only one who thinks that as well!

I've always wanted to get into a good RPG but I've never seen one that really intrigued me. This might be my first RPG I purchase!

[Kinger8938]

BEYOND!!

I didnt get on with the demo but may now get the game regardless as i feel the same as colin does about skyrim! I love the setting etc but the combat felt a bit odd

[jennyisagoodgirl]

I'm hoping that this game will be nice :)

[SephirothX21]

This is this dev's first game. Holy hell what an achievement and I will honour them by purchasing it on Steam tuesday.

[EronY]

good review. can't wait to play this game.

[vikingland1]

I didn't like the wonky camera in the demo. If the camera is tighter then I will get it.

[Baba1906]

yay love it. =D cant wait to get it.